by Diane Leyne
Just this one last time, she told herself. One last night of hot sex so the memory could keep her warm on cold nights her lonely bed. One more night she resolved, knowing that they’d probably come and go and she wouldn’t have the guts to tell them how she felt.
She sighed and saw Noah, who worked the grin in her diner looking at her, his face showing his concern. Smiling, she winked at him and laughed at his expression.
He was a good kid. Well, not a kid, really. He just had such a baby face. He’d been through so much, witnessing a mob hit and now hiding out here in Satisfaction under an assumed name while he waited to testify.
Of course, she wasn’t supposed to know Noah’s story, and Tait and Aaron would be shocked if they knew she knew. And they’d be horrified if they realized that most of the town knew. The citizens of Satisfaction looked after their own. Noah was a bit prickly, but Tanner loved him and that made him one of their own. He worked at Candy’s Diner and, whether he wanted it or not, they would look out for him.
But she had something more important to think about than him right now. Tait and Aaron were coming to Satisfaction. It was probably as much about business as it was her. They helped keep an eye on Noah. In fact, it had been their idea that Noah help out at the diner as a way to keep busy. And she’d agreed because she assumed that they’d be around a lot more regularly as they checked on him, but instead, it was a variety of agents who stopped by to monitor their charge. Most of them were okay, she supposed, but there was one in particular who gave her the creeps. She thought he might be FBI, and was glad he’d only come by once.
As the day went on, she tried to force herself not to get her hopes built up that they’d stick around for more than a few hours or even that she was their top priority and just be happy they were safe and alive and coming to visit. Unlike with most relationships, she didn’t worry that they were with another woman when they weren’t with her. She worried about guns and knives and even bombs. Their jobs were dangerous and she worried.
When they were together, it was amazing and she tried to tell herself that was enough, but each time they left, it got harder and harder to believe it. More than once she’d made a firm decision that things couldn’t go on, but each time they came back to her, she welcomed them into her bed and her life.
This time, this time she resolved, she’d tell them how she felt before they left. She’d let them know that things couldn’t go on the way they were. The ball would be in their court if they wanted to continue seeing her, but she couldn’t wait around wondering if the next call would be to tell her that they were dead.
But first, she’d have one more perfect night with them.
Chapter Two
Tait and Aaron had been vague about their arrival time but implied they would be there for dinner. From experience, she knew that they would more than likely arrive late. So she had decided to send Noah home early, and she’d stay late and close up after Aaron and Tait arrived. This way, Noah could come in early and do the Sunday morning shift in the diner and she and her men could spend Sunday morning in bed.
Of course, they’d missed dinner. They’d actually called around seven to say there were running late, promising to arrive by ten, possibly eleven, but no later than midnight at the absolute latest. She was both shocked and pleased that they’d called, but she tried to keep her hopes from rising. Until they actually arrived, she knew she couldn’t count on them. But that was easier said than done. They’d called not once but twice. Surely this time they wouldn’t get her hopes up and then let her down. Could they? And even if they came, it was only for a night, two at the most. Then they’d be gone, risking their lives and she’d be stuck at home, waiting. Again.
She closed down the diner at nine thirty and headed home to wait. She tried not to be disappointed when ten came and went and then eleven. When the clock hit midnight, she made her decision. She was just tired of the uncertainty. It was over, she decided, sitting on her couch eating Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey directly from the container. She stood, as the tears rolled down her cheeks, walked to the door and fastened the security chain. The men could get past any lock they wanted, she was sure, but the chain would make her point. Then she went back to the couch to cuddle up with Ben and Jerry.
When the phone rang just after four, she didn’t even look at the call display. She’d expected it to be Tait or Aaron apologizing and changing their arrival time yet again. Or maybe calling to reschedule yet again. Whatever. Enough was enough.
“You know what? Do you know what time it is? Fuck it. I’ve had enough of you two playing with me like this. I don’t give a flying fuck about your emergencies. I can’t life like this anymore. You hear me?”
“I do, and I’m sorry,” said a tentative male voice.
“Sorry? I don’t…Wait.” She held the phone away from her face and checked the call display, but it said blocked. “Who is this?”
“It’s Carter Hayes and whatever I’ve done, I’m so sorry and promise never to do it again! And I’m so sorry about the time. It’s six here. I’m assuming it’s not eight there.”
“No, Carter.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s four. You’ve got the time difference backward again.” She chuckled.
Good old Carter was a genius in the kitchen, but had never been able to keep time zones straight for as long as she’d known him. They’d met in culinary college and had bonded over a stubborn soufflé. They’d never been romantically involved, though. They had become friends and had kept in touch over the years. Now Carter was the resident chef of Libertine Island, a BDSM resort on a small private island near St. Maarten, where his brothers also lived and worked. And the three brothers were all Doms and deliriously happy sharing the woman and sub they all loved.
“Oh my god, Carter! How are you? It’s so good to hear your voice. How are Maggie and your brothers? Have you had your babymoon yet?”
He’d called her a few months ago to find out if she was able to come out to the island for a couple of weeks while he and his brothers took their love Maggie away for a babymoon before she gave birth. She’d been his first choice and it had been tempting, a working vacation, so to speak. But she’d had to decline because she couldn’t leave the diner. The brothers had kept searching and had found Edward.
“Eddie bailed. He couldn’t deal with the BDSM aspect of the island. I told him before he took the job. I really did, Candy. I showed him photos. I offered to arrange for him to visit on of the clubs on the mainland so he’d know what he was getting into. He assured me that he’d be fine. It was a two-week, working vacation. He’d be fine, he said. Well, Candy, he wasn’t fine.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Carter. What are you going to do?”
“Well, if you still don’t want to come to the Island, I guess it’s a choice of cancelling the babymoon completely or having Maggie and my brothers go without me.”
Candy sighed sympathetically. And then she had a thought. Noah.
He’d be perfect. He was a great chef and he wasn’t shocked by BDSM. Of course, he was hiding out in Satisfaction while waiting to testify. Surely going to a private island for two weeks wouldn’t be a big deal. The island had first-rate security and all visitors were carefully vetted. You couldn’t just book a holiday there. You had to be thoroughly screened if you weren’t vouched for by one of the Libertine Island owners or key staff.
In fact, the more she thought about it, the more perfect the idea seemed. Noah and Tanner were growing closer and Tanner was a Dom. He’d love the island, too. Maybe they could both go.
“You know I’d love to, but I have a business here to run. But Carter, I think I might have someone for you. I don’t want you to get too excited. Can I let you know tomorrow?”
“Don’t get my hopes up, Candy, not if you can’t deliver. I’m dying here. Maggie’s five months pregnant and the doctor doesn’t want her travelling after the sixth month. If we can’t go soon, the whole thing’s off. I don’t want to stay here while the three of them
go off without me, but I would if we could convince Maggie to go. Unfortunately, she won’t go without me and we’ll all lose out unless I can get someone to fill in for me.”
“I can’t say one-hundred percent, but I think my cook Noah would be perfect. He’s a Cordon Bleu chef and he’s dating a Dom who would probably be happy to come along.”
“He does sound perfect. But how can he come with such short notice? Don’t you need him at the diner?”
“Having him makes my life easier, but I ran the place for years without him. I can manage for two weeks. In fact, I’m doing someone a favor by taking him on while he’s, uh, free for a while. I fully expect him to move on in the next few months. There will be one catch, though. Are you okay if his boyfriend comes, too?”
“Will they both be okay with the fact that it’s a BDSM resort?”
“No worries there. Tanner is Noah’s Dom as well as his boyfriend.”
“In that case, hell yeah, they can both come. With you to vouch for the quality of his cooking, hell, you are still my first choice, but with your recommendation, both Noah and Tanner are more than welcome.
“Long story, which I am sure he and Tanner will fill you in on when they arrive. Just e-mail me the travel details for getting to this island of yours. I don’t want to get your hopes up too much, but if things work out the way I think they will, he’ll be on a plane tonight, tomorrow at the latest.”
“Tomorrow? I’ll send you flight information and links to the club’s website and the password so you can get into the private areas and tempt Noah and Tanner with just how amazing the island is. I’ll even send you credit card information to book the ticket. Don’t argue. You are doing us a big favor. It’s bound to be expensive at the last minute, but I don’t care how much it costs. Candy, if you can make this happen, I’ll, no, we’ll, be eternally grateful. In fact, I’ll make sure you have a lifetime membership at Libertine Island, Club Libertine and…”
“And that’s more than enough. Send me that info and I’ll let you know one way or the other.”
* * * *
An hour later, Candy stared at the computer screen. She’d gotten Carter’s e-mail and had clicked on the links he’d provided. There was a flight out of El Paso at noon that connected in Raleigh with a flight that arrived in St. Maarten late that night. Connections were tight, so it was possible that an overnight in Raleigh would be required, but other routings were no better.
Then she’d made a big mistake and clicked on the Island link. It was so beautiful. Sun, Sand, and Submission in Paradise was the island’s motto. The photos did seem to show paradise. The water was so damned blue and the sand on the beach so white and temping. The hotel itself had been designed to fit into with the surroundings. It was low-rise with a number of smaller buildings.
It was chic and modern and expensive looking. The resort seemed to have everything. It had a great looking beach, a gym, huge pool, boat dock and a restaurant that wouldn’t be out of place in Paris. It also had a playroom that seemed to have every piece of BDSM equipment ever made.
The website even had a page on the expansion project that Carter’s brother Chris was overseeing. The place was wildly successful and wildly expensive. It was an impressive operation and she wished it was her and not Noah who was going. At least, she assumed he’d want to go. He was coming in early to do the breakfast shift because she was supposed to be home with her two hot secret agent boyfriends having tons of hot, kinky sex.
She was looking at the pictures when the mail icon popped up on her screen. Clicking on it, she realized it was from Tait.
Hey, Sweets. Running late. Not sure when we’ll be in, but it’ll be sometime today or maybe tomorrow at the latest. Sorry that it’s going to be a short visit, so make sure you have someone to mind the diner so we can maximize our opportunity to fuck your brains out.
T
PS—Aaron says hi and to make sure you lube that cute ass of yours. We did rock, paper, scissors and he won the right to use it first.
She read the note a second time and a third. Was it supposed to be some kind of love note or something? They were coming to her for sex and nothing more. Why had she ever thought otherwise? If they cared about her as a person, they would have made more of an effort to actually spend time with her outside the bedroom and the playroom.
She didn’t just blame them. She blamed herself, too. You teach people how you expect to be treated, and she’d let them walk all over her. She was available whenever they wanted. She never said no and was always waiting when they bothered to show up.
Impulsively she packed an overnight bag with some resort wear and her passport. Maybe if Noah didn’t want to go, she would. Hell, why not? She was single. They weren’t in a committed relationship. It would serve Tait and Aaron right if she went to the island and found a hot Dom or two who would appreciate her properly.
But getting away for a week or two would be good for Noah and Tanner. He’d been under such stress lately. She looked at her suitcase and shook her head. What was she thinking?
It would be good for you, too! The little voice in her head was whispering naughty thoughts. After all, what if Tait and Aaron showed up and she was gone? Serve them right if you weren’t hanging around waiting for whatever crumbs they could give you. Maybe it was time they worried a bit about you for a change.
That damned little voice in her head wouldn’t stop, and it had a point. She’d talk to Noah, she decided, and give him the choice. If he wasn’t interested, then she’d go. Carter and his family deserved their babymoon, and she deserved not to be taken for granted.
The drive was short and she vacillated. What if Noah wanted to go? What if he didn’t? Which did she want?
She got out of her car, leaving the bag in the backseat, still uncertain if she hoped Noah wanted to go or not. She walked up to the front door and nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard a man’s voice. She dropped her keys and he picked them up and handed them to her. She turned to thank him and retrieve her keys.
“You scared the life out of me, though. I didn’t see a car.” She frowned. “You look familiar. Have you been here before?” Crap. It was that creep FBI agent.
“You might have seen me around a time or two.” His tone was abrupt. “I thought Noah Grainger was opening this morning?”
“He was. I mean, he is. I was supposed to take the morning off to be with my boyfriends, but they didn’t show. I couldn’t sleep, so here I am. Besides, I have something to ask him about and I was up so I figured…” She realized she was babbling but didn’t know how to stop. “Why don’t you come in and take a seat? Coffee should only take a second. Noah should be here in half an hour.”
He followed her in, walked over to the counter, and took a seat where he could watch. She kept an eye on him as she put her bag on the counter, and then moved across the kitchen to start making coffee. Something about him made her nervous and she found herself babbling again.
“You are one of the agents keeping an eye on Noah, aren’t you? Rodgers, right?” she blurted out. At the sight of the shock and then anger that flashed across his face, she felt her stomach tense up. Clearly he wasn’t happy that she knew his name. He didn’t say anything, though. He just looked at her with cold, watchful eyes, so she did the only thing she could to fill the silence. She started babbling, hoping that someone else would come soon and relieve the tension. She did not like being alone with this man, but she could hardly throw a customer out, especially since he was a colleague of Tait and Aaron’s.
“I mean, I think that’s where I saw you, right? I am dating Tait Sorenson and Aaron Day, so you can trust me, but really, half the population of Satisfaction knows about Noah.” She knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t seem to stop. There was something about him that made her nervous and she rambled to fill in the very uncomfortable silence. “Anyway, he hasn’t talked or anything, but you know how things get around a small town. And now, I came in early because I got stood up.” She looked at him
and realized she was afraid but she wasn’t sure why. There was just something about this man. She hurried on before he could speak.
“And, can I ask you something, I have an offer from a friend who needs a chef to fill in for two weeks at an island in the Caribbean called Libertine Island. I thought that maybe Noah would enjoy it. Tanner might even be able to go with him. I know he hasn’t exactly enjoyed being in a small town but maybe a couple of weeks on a tropical island will help. Couldn’t hurt, right? The thing is, they need someone right away, today, if possible. Do you think that would be okay? I mean, the island is private and has top-notch security…” She let her voice trail off as she saw his expression.
“Hell, I’m sorry. What was I thinking? They actually asked me first, but I have the diner, and then Tait and Aaron, but our relationship really isn’t going anywhere. They always stand me up and well, I’m babbling again. I’m sorry, but, I mean, maybe they are still coming, but I’m just so tired of the uncertainty.”
“Why don’t you go?”
“What?”
“Go. To the island. In fact, I would suggest you leave now. Sounds to me like Tait and Aaron have been trifling with you. Go. Enjoy yourself on this tropical island. Let them worry about you for a change.”
She flinched. That’s exactly what she’d been thinking. Was he a mind reader? She was saved from answering by an incoming message on her phone.
“It’s Tait and Aaron. They say they are running late and could I rearrange my schedule to be free tonight instead. Dammit.” She looked at Rodgers. “They can’t just expect me to rearrange my life at the drop of the hat whenever they can bother to make time to come and see men.”
